Download C-Difficile Patient Information – Diagnosis

Useful Information
For more information contact a member of the infection control
team Phil Broad, AnnMarie Tully, Christine Howell and Sarah Gray
on 0161 975 4710/11
INFECTION CONTROL
Information for patients
Diagnosed with Clostridium
Difficile
NHS Direct - 24 hour advice and health information service
NHS Direct Tel No:
0845 46 47
Local Pharmacy - Your local pharmacies offer a wide range of
services including information and general advice on symptom
relief medicines as well as a prescription collection and delivery
service.
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Caring for people with Clostridium difficile
Hand washing
After going to the toilet
• Thoroughly wash your hands with liquid soap and running water.
• Dry hands with own towel or kitchen roll.
If you require assistance taking you to the toilet, ensure your carer
also washes their hands and dries with kitchen roll.
Use soap and water for hand washing (alcohol based hand gel is
NOT effective against this infection).
Once the diarrhoea has stopped
• Thoroughly clean bathroom with a bleach solution using a
disposable cloth
• Wipe areas around the house with a bleach type detergent
especially door handles, chair arms, etc
• Clean any carpet spills with disposable cloths and detergent
• Dispose of used cloths in a plastic bag
• All equipment that has come into contact with you, i.e. medical
equipment should be cleaned and disinfected
• Wash your bedding on the hottest temperature the fabric will
allow
When is the Clostridium difficile is no longer infectious?
Once the diarrhoea has stopped for at least 48 hours and your
bowel motion is back to normal you are not considered to be
infectious.
There is no need for you to do another stool specimen as the
bacteria can remain in your gut for a number of months without
causing you any problems.
Bowel movements
Keep a record of how often you have diarrhoea to observe for any
improvement in your condition. If it does not improve over the week
contact your GP for advice.
If you have any fever, acute pain or abdominal distension out of
Surgery hours, report this to the out of hours GP service.
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Can Clostridium difficile come back?
YES! Some patients may suffer a relapse of Clostridium difficile
diarrhoea.
Bacteria may remain in your bowel for some time afterwards and
the diarrhoea may return requiring further treatment consisting of
a further course of antibiotics
Please contact your GP if you develop diarrhoea again
following treatment and inform them that you have had
clostridium difficile recently.
General information
Laundry
Caring for people with Clostridium difficile
Own home
•Wash bed linen and towels at 60˚C
•Tumble dry if possible and iron.
•Personal clothing -wash at the highest temperature the fabric
allows
Do not wash with other household laundry.
Diet
•Ensure you drink plenty of fluids, avoid fruit juices.
•Eat a light diet
•Drinking probiotic drinks may help
Equipment
•All equipment should be cleaned with a bleach solution prior to
returning to the Community Equipment Store
•Do not share any loaned equipment
Social activities
Client should stay at home until they have been clear of diarrhoea
for 48 hours
GP practice
Avoid going to the GP surgery when suffering from diarrhoea. If
you need to attend, inform the GP you have the infection prior to
attending the surgery.
Crockery and cutlery
Wash in ‘hand hot’, soapy water. No additional
precautions are required.
Cleaning
Clean toilet and bathroom with a bleach solution (ratio 1 part
bleach to 10 parts water) or detergent containing bleach.
Use disposable cloths.
•Stay at home whilst suffering from diarrhoea.
•Once you have been free from diarrhoea for 48hours you can
return to normal social activities
Wipe other areas with a detergent e.g. washing up liquid using a
disposable cloth. Clean commodes as you would a toilet.
Antibiotics
Dispose of any incontinence pads etc into household waste
(double bagged.)
•Take your treatment as prescribed by your GP, usually an
antibiotic called Metronidazole for 10 days
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Waste
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What is Clostridium difficile?
It is a bacterium (bug) that can cause infection in the gut. It is found
in the gut of a small number of healthy adults and children where it
may not cause any problems.
General information continued
If the diarrhoea is not settling following completion of your
antibiotics, then you need to contact your GP. You may need
another course of treatment or a different antibiotic.
This infection mainly occurs after taking certain antibiotics which
alters the gut flora and allows clostridium difficile bacteria to grow in
number.
The Clostridium difficile can produce toxins which lead to diarrhoea
and swelling of the bowel. The bacteria can form a barrier around it
called a spore, and can survive in the environment for a long time.
DO NOT take any anti-diarrhoea medication.
The antibiotics you have been prescribed should help stop your
diarrhoea.
How did I get Clostridium difficile?
You can get Clostridium difficile by ingesting (swallowing) the
bacteria, ‘usually hand to mouth’.
Clostridium difficile is passed on when bacteria is expelled during
diarrhoea. Furniture and equipment can become covered in these
spores and people can become infected by touching furniture, then
touching their mouth.
The bacteria can also be transferred from the hands of other people
which can transfer the infection on.
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Visitors
Visitors should wash their hands with liquid soap and dry with
disposable paper towels when leaving your home.
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